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Elisenhof wind farm in Paderborn has received a fillip, thanks to RWE’s successful repowering project, highlighting the potential of upgrading older wind facilities. The site now has two turbines instead of nine, doubling electricity output to 11.4 MW. This was pulled off by RWE by deploying more powerful turbines, elevating the wind farm’s total output from 6.75 to 11.4 megawatts. As a result, green electricity equivalent to 5,500 households in North Rhine-Westphalia is being supplied.
In a sustainability feat, Elisenhof serves as a recycling showcase. Dismantled wind farm components find new life in Spain, where RWE’s team refurbishes rotor blades, nacelles, hubs, and switching cabinets in their workshop. These revamped elements now contribute to RWE’s Spanish wind fleet, extending the service life of the country’s wind farms by 10 to 15 years. This innovative approach exemplifies environmental responsibility and resourcefulness.
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said, “This project is a good example of how the energy transition can succeed. We were able to build on public acceptance and are now producing more than twice as much green electricity. Thanks to the RWE climate bonus, the local communities also benefit from this repowering project. For every kilowatt hour produced, we voluntarily pay 0.2 cents to the neighbouring communities. That’s an additional income of around €40,000 per year.”
